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Congrats to Gambian-British actor Babou Ceesay on joining the cast of ITV's crime drama Lewis, in what is being hailed as a significant shift in cultural practice at that network.

Apparently this is a spoiler ~ OP:[Spoiler (click to open)]Lewis is a spin-off of the popular drama Inspector Morse, and stars Kevin Whately in the lead role of DI Robert Lewis. With the departure of DI Lewis' long-time partner DS James Hathaway, Ceesay joins the show as Lewis' new partner, DS Alex Gray.

The addition of Ceesay's character was highlighted by several British media outlets as noteworthy, particularly due to ITV's reported history of programming that rarely features characters-of-color in prominent roles.As many of us already know, the lack of diversity on British television is not exclusive to ITV. Networks such as BBC, Channel 4, and Sky 1 have all taken great strides in improving the disparity in television casting during the last 30 years, but there are still advancements yet to be made.

Don't get me wrong-- ITV did a good thing with this Lewis casting. But while I applaud them for finally making that move, and before we join in on the back-patting, it's worth noting that Lewis is in its seventh and final series. And if I'm not mistaken, Ceesay's character isn't even introduced until the 3rd episode of this 6-episode series. So essentially, dedicated Lewis viewers will get to know Ceesay's DS Gray, and appreciate the diversification of the cast, but just long enough to be disappointed when ITV snatches him away forever.

It almost feels like some sort of end-of-term, governor's reprieve. As if this type of casting would not have been tolerated at the beginning of, and during, the show's run, "so why not tack it on at the very end?"

ITV caught hell a few years ago when a producer on another of its hit crime dramas, Midsomer Murders, received a disciplinary suspension for suggesting in an interview that his show had no place for a racially-diverse cast "because it wouldn't be the English village with them." That producer, Brian True-May, went on to say, "It just wouldn't work. Suddenly we might be in Slough . . . We're the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way." Ouch.

To his credit, though, Ceesay seems to be trying to play down the hype surrounding his casting in Lewis and remain impartial about the whole situation. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ceesay revealed the following:

"When I started working on the show I was told about the controversy surrounding Midsomer Murders as an ethnic-free zone," he said. "But I don't think my role in Lewis is political. I don't think they were 'going black' for the part, as the industry phrase goes."

But the actor, who was most recently seen in the BBC4 sitcom Getting On, agrees that his casting is a positive step: "It can't be a bad thing, although in acting you can't get away from the fact that your colour and age and gender will affect you. It is a naturally prejudiced business."

The show, he said, will ignore his colour, something which he finds "quite refreshing. The statement is that I am there and I am black. There is no need for them to say anything else."

Growing up in Africa, he was part of a black majority, so race was never an issue. "At the beginning in Britain, perhaps, I did wonder why I was not getting the opportunity to try this or to try that," he said.

He believes that the situation is improving, with a greater variety of work on offer. "It is a lot more interesting now because there is more 'blind casting' going on," he said. "In the beginning there were only a couple of times per annum when I would be called for a part that was not necessarily black, but it has increased.That might be partly because I am more experienced now, though. Agents, casting directors and the big decision-makers in the industry seem to entertain the idea of experimenting."

Ceesay even refuses to co-sign on the reasoning behind the so-called "British black-actor exodus" that has previously been discussed on S&A, specifically addressing Homeland actor David Harewood's public comments on the issue:

"I have watched David's career and I love his work, but I have a slightly different view. I do agree with him that the size of the industry out there makes a difference. But it is more competitive there, too. He was in a very big series, but I know several good black actors who are struggling out there."

While I can appreciate Ceesay's opinion on the matter, I can't help but wonder if he'll continue to sing the same tune once Lewis wraps for good. Will the roles keep rolling in? Will Ceesay need to dust off his passport?

ITV is the focus of discussion this time, but it shan't be long before we're again having this discussion about BBC, Channel 4, Sky 1, or any other network that refuses to acknowledge that the world isn't just one color.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Ceesay's career. Clearly, there aren't any guarantees of steady employment with any of the major British television networks (unless they care to prove me wrong). But with a role in the upcoming, highly anticipated Biyi Bandele-directed feature film Half Of A Yellow Sun, Ceesay will, at least, remain on S&A's radar for the foreseeable future.

Mostly posting this because people here seem to think British TV is a multicultural utopia. Interestingly enough this is the last season of Lewis, I guess they decided to f**k it all and have all the delicate white people clutching their pearls at the thought of a black person in Oxford

There will always be supporters. The point is are they of an amount that warrants a serious reaction and are their supporting views racist?My take is not all shows need have a "minority" and if, like me, you prefer shows with a minority there are many on offer.

Well, ITV seems to care what they think seeing that most of their programming is free of ethnic minorities.

The whole "not all shows need a minority" sentiment comes across like the minorities are a spare part or appendix. And their only role/purpose on TV is to be ethnic minorities. If you want to make that argument, then we can argue that not all shows need to be full of white people.

Are you a minority? You seem impassioned by a minor issue here. I am half black and I have a natural and real connection with black-British actors but I am not perturbed by which show and which network casts them. I view television as a single bloc so it hardly matters to me what ITV does because there's enough within the entity to satisfy my affinity?

Why are we still complaining about things like this? It all seems so unnecessary? What has happened, in my view, is that there is a real increase of leading man black British stock and there just aren't enough roles for them because their talent is beyond bit part roles and we do not yet have the writing stock to grab at the glut. And yes, i do think you need black writers to really push for those roles.

Have you heard of Redfern Now? That's what we need more of in the UK.... make it a black thing and let's not worry about white people not giving our lot a chance.

Yes, I am a minority. Our lack of representation is not a minor issue. You should hear gay people talk about the impact of seeing themselves on TV to realise how powerful Tv is as a medium in making people feel a part of whatever community they are in. The lackadaisical attitude people had/have is the reason why things in America went so backwards. Now everyone is wondering what happened after the Cosby show and Fresh Prince.

We are complaining about things like these because TV producers use every excuse to leave ethnic minorities out. If we don't complain things don't change. I agree that we need more black writers, but black writers would not get anywhere if there are no stations backing them. Stations controlled by white people.

You think Redfern Now can come to the UK without white people giving us a chance? Who do you think controls all the major networks? Unless you want to show it on OBE, you are going to be have to keep talking about white people giving us a chance.

I think gays complain because it's now part of their DNA. I get that, though. But I also heed that before I take serious the complaints.

Listen, everything you say here is worthy and commendable even in my discounted view of it - I don't wholly subscribe to the power of seeing ourselves in a tv shows. But, I just don't believe there is a racist or racialist element to the choices. You reference The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince but is it not also true that black sitcoms also did well in the UK at that time? It was the time for it, almost.

We had Love Thy Neighbour (the 70's I think) and Desmonds as they had those you referenced and before that; Sanford, Good Times, etc. It just seems that when a minority's issue comes to a head, there is a natural acceleration and propagation of its culture which pours into the arts. We see it now with gays and the sudden amount of shows focused on and featuring gay characters.

So perhaps you should more appreciate that phenomenon's impact rather than the racial/racist element. Minorities aren't just an ethnicity.

However, the issue of under-represented ethnic minorities still remain and on this score I think the UK should really be looking to address it with a Spike Lee or a Tyler Perry type in the television world. Someone who can galvanise into action a large bloc of minorties on a single project.

Though you think it's next to impossible given who "controls all the major networks", I think it's much easier to sell a show en masse rather than try to populate various shows with minorities. I'd rather it is better than Citizen Khan but at least you got relatively decent viewing numbers.

You might not subscribe to the power of seeing yourself on TV doesn't mean other people don't and doesn't mean other people do not need that. There is a race element to the choices, speaking from experience I know the BBC tracks the amount of minorities - including older people and LGBT people in their programming. I know Chanel 4 made an effort to cast ethnic minorities on one of their shows. but, most of these steps did not happen till after Greg Dyke called BBC out for being "hideously white" suddenly, there was a scramble to represent ethnic minorities not only on screen but, behind the camera. Before that TV was a white boys club and in many ways it still is.

Pick a production company check out the heads and full time staff, odds are it would be 90- 100% white, with the exception of companies founded by minorities or with ethnic minorities as co-owners. They might not be knowingly racist, they just haven't had to put any thought into anything outside of themselves. They bond easily with people of their own kind - small towner who moved to london.

If it is easier " to sell a show en masse rather than..." why aren't there more shows like Citizen Khan on TV? It is not for the lack of good ethnic minority writers I can tell you that. I know many who are struggling to get a foot in or are going the webseries route.